Condom ad ban row: Rajasthan HC sends notice to health, I&B ministries, seeks explanation

Why can't condom advertisements be telecast on television between 6am and 10pm? No, this is not a late reaction to the union government's recent move to ban TV condom ads between 6am and 10pm, but a question posed by the Rajasthan High Court to the Centre.

The high court has sent a notice to the union ministries of health as well as information and broadcasting, asking the departments to explain the reasoning behind the government's move restricting the telecast of condom ads.

The Rajasthan High Court's move followed an NGO filing a public interest litigation challenging the government's move. While the ministries are likely to seek legal direction before filing their respective replies in the Rajasthan High Court, their explanations could possibly be derived from the advisory Ministry of Information and Broadcasting sent to television networks on December 12.